Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says 'very difficult day' may lead to more changes

Police Chief Nate Harper resigned Wednesday at the request of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who was interviewed by the FBI earlier in the day as part of an ongoing investigation at the Pittsburgh Police Bureau.

The move comes just days after Ravenstahl launched an independent review of policies and procedures in the city's police bureau, and after Ravenstahl had publicly said he was standing by Harper.

Ravenstahl did not say what he and the FBI spoke about, or why he changed his mind and decided Harper had to go. He would only say, "Today, I learned enough to ask the chief to resign."

When the mayor was questioned by WTAE's Jim Parsons about whether he had asked anyone else to retire or resign, he replied, "I have not, but what I will tell you is changes very well may be made. We'll meet after this to figure out what our next step is. Clearly, I'm not happy at this point."

The move had "absolutely zero to do with politics," said Ravenstahl, who praised Harper on a personal level and admitted it was difficult to ask for his job. "It's a sad day, one that has been tough for a lot of people. But we'll pick up the pieces and move on. The police department will continue to do what they do, and we'll do our best to give them the direction necessary to move forward and restore the pride of the bureau."

Ravenstahl said his personal attorney and the city's solicitor, Dan Regan, were both present during his FBI interview, but he said repeatedly that he is not a target of the investigation.

"I think he’s distraught over it, it’s not how he wanted a 36 year career to end," said Del Greco.

However Del Greco says before the Mayor phoned Harper, asking for his resignation, Harper had plans to retire this week.

"Everyone realizes, the chief and the mayor, that the distractions of the investigation prevented him from discharging his duties to the citizens of Pittsburgh," said Del Greco.

The Mayor says this is not political, and Del Greco believes his client would not challenge that.

While we don’t know what the federal government’s investigation will reveal, the mayor says he is not a target.

"Let me be clear, I have been informed by the US Attorneys, that I am not a target of the investigation," said the mayor.

And he went on to indicate that other forced resignations could be coming.

"Clearly I’m not happy at this point and there very well may be changes that may come in the near future," he said.

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On Monday, Ravenstahl said he had chosen former Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani to look at the current policies regarding city officers who also work jobs outside the police bureau or own outside businesses, and to recommend any changes that should be made.

Last week, the FBI seized records from police headquarters with a subpoena. At that time, sources told Channel 4 Action News that the federal agents were looking for documents from Harper's office and the special events office, which handles money from the off-duty work that police officers do for private employers. The FBI also took records from the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union.

There's also an ongoing federal grand jury investigation of how a city contract was awarded to install laptop computers and light bars in emergency vehicles.

Art Bedway, owner of Carnegie-based Victory Security and a personal friend of Harper, and Christine Kebr, a former systems analyst for the city, are facing federal charges that they created a shell company called Alpha Outfitters to get the city contract.

In 2010, when Parsons asked Harper if he ever had a financial interest in Alpha, Victory or any Bedway company, Harper answered, "No." His answer was the same when Parsons asked if he played any role in Alpha getting the city contract.

In November, Harper said in a written statement: "I did not help Art Bedway in any way obtain the city contract for his company, and I have not testified before any grand jury."

A court document filed by Bedway's lawyer earlier this month indicates that Bedway may be cooperating with federal prosecutors. It says he is trying to work out a resolution with the government.Kebr is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy in December.